Graham had been waiting for them outside Omura's office, just as Miryu had predicted. "What in heaven's name is going on?" he asked them frantically. "The diplomatic community is all abuzz! They said that Omura has passed laws against the samurai!" The situation was dire, and he could see Miryu quickly putting on a ring that she had concealed within the folds of her obi… "If your friend Katsumoto shows up at the Council meeting armed, he is a dead man." Good, another reason for Algren to stay… Katsumoto would need rescuing, no doubt.
"Graham, we need you to do something for us," Miryu whispered before looking around for any of Omura's followers or henchmen. As quickly as possible, she told Graham of her plan and made sure that he was sworn to secrecy. She had wanted to offer him some monetary compensation with the wealth she had gained due to the fact that the Emperor seized the Tsubasa Clan's assets, and gave half to charity while endowing her with the other, but the Englishman declined, saying that it was a matter of honor. "My friend, you are indeed the best," she said with the biggest smile.
However, as they got around a corner in the street, they could hear several voices making a huge fuss, and all they could see were four soldiers in full uniform, surrounding a very familiar youth, bearing swords, with a straight gait as he stood there… It was Nobutada, and he was being taunted by the soldiers in the worst possible manner. "Miryu…" Algren said to her, and she nodded. Immediately, they rushed towards the soldiers, while he told them to put their rifles down.
"Who are the two of you?" one of the soldiers demanded. And just as Algren had told them of his position, they kicked him in the shin, causing him to almost fall to the ground. At this, Miryu quickly helped him up, but was slapped by another soldier. "You, woman, who do you think you are, wearing a katana like a samurai?"
She looked at him with poison-filled eyes as she stood up and showed him her ring. "I am Tsubasa Miryu, soldier, a ward of the Emperor. If you so much raise a finger against me, you are answerable to his Imperial Majesty," she replied. She knew that the Emperor had little power in the political arena, but amongst the populace, he was considered as a god. However, these soldiers were unmoving, and continued to harass Nobutada and Algren.
The soldier who slapped her added, "The Emperor's whore has no influence over us, much less a gaijin employee of the army!" Although they did not continue to assault her, they directed their attentions back to Nobutada, who had already reached for his own katana, mimicking one of Miryu's battou-jutsu stances. It was utter chaos. Such a thing was not meant to happen, not in a civilized society, not where the very balance of their nation was about to be threatened.
"To see armed soldiers harassing women, gaijin and a youth, you are but shame to your uniforms de gozaran," said a voice from behind them. It did not take long to know that Kenshin was there. He too, was bearing his sakabattou, despite the orders against the wearing of katana, and he was more than willing to use it against those soldiers at the time. "Captain Algren has come to train you to better the army, is that how you repay him de gozaru ka?"
One of the soldiers had enough, and started to threaten that Kenshin would be killed for blatantly disregarding the law and for insulting soldiers of the Imperial Army, but the red-haired rurouni made no change in his stand. With one swift stroke delivered to the chest, he incapacitated the soldier to the greatest effect. And the most astound thing was, not a single drop of blood was shed, much to the surprise of the gathering crowd. "Himura-san has changed much," Nobutada said when the remaining soldiers run towards Kenshin, ignoring him completely, only to receive the fate of their comrade. With all of the soldier's dealt with, the crowd quickly dispersed, leaving Algren and Miryu with Nobutada, and Graham, who was filled with awe. He had never seen such skill in his life before.
"Kenshin, have you heard?" Miryu asked him, sapphire eyes filled with worry. He nodded, and said that he would do all he can to aid in situations alike what had just happened. Those with the sword should not be dishonored in that manner, although they had been outlawed. However, in all technicalities, his sakabattou could not be considered as a true katana, and he would be easily forgiven, and Miryu, being a ward of the Emperor, and was on a temporary reassignment to Algren, meant that she had clearance to keep hers… Those deeply affected, would be the samurai who had no connections, no links whatsoever, with Katsumoto at their head.
Nobutada knew that Kenshin would not aid his father, and he understood well his reasons. "I'm afraid that you won't have the chance to, Himura-san," he said to Kenshin. "Omura will kill all of us with his Western weapons…" Miryu did not know how fast that information got to Nobutada, or it was just an assumption, but it broke her heart to see this proud youth lose hope so fast.
"Nobutada-dono, you must stay strong for your father de gozaru yo," Kenshin said with a smile. "Sessha remembers that he loves you de gozaran…" Sadly, those were matters that he could not step into; matters that he refused to meddle with. Miryu had always used the Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryuu in the political aspect, and it was her decision, not his, and she was right in doing so... His place was with the people, and they were who he would defend. The samurai, they were capable of defending themselves, whether or not they would win against Omura, it was another matter entirely. However, in his mind, Omura's efforts to renew Japan were a welcome change to improve the nation, and that was all. "Miryu, Algren-dono, Sessha must take Sessha's leave de gozaru."
They nodded, and watched him leave. "We'll take you home," Algren said to Nobutada, while Miryu made sure that Graham would execute their little plan, stressing to him that it would cost their lives with there was any single error. Graham quickly nodded, and made for the military quarters, where he would wait for them… Unbeknownst to them, Omura's henchmen watched every single thing, and they had strict orders… Orders to kill both Algren and Miryu if they were found anywhere near Katsumoto.